Don’t be fooled by appearances. Last year, Tadej Pogacar reigned over the Strade Bianche by taking the tangent 50 terminals from the finish. No one had seen him then. Too strong, too powerful, the Slovenian had raised his arms like a lord on the sumptuous piazza del Campo in Siena. This year, the victory goes to Tom Pidcock, he also escaped at the same level of the track but the race scenario was totally different.
10 km from the final, the Englishman saw his pursuers come back to almost seven seconds. We then thought the race was open as ever. What if Valentin Madouas tricked everyone? What if Matej Mohoric did Milan-San Remo 2022 again and sickened his world downhill? The misunderstanding between them, symbolized by Tiesj Benoot’s annoyance towards his Jumbo Visma teammate Atila Valter, allowed Pidcock to regain the lead and savor this prestigious victory. Last summer, the leader of Ineos, world cyclo-cross champion, had already distinguished himself by winning the Alpe d’Huez stage on the Tour de France.
Madouas finished second ahead of Benoot. A great performance for the Brestois of Groupama-FDJ, who confirms his talents in one-day races after his 3rd place last year on the Tour of Flanders. Very clever, the 26-year-old runner was able to extricate himself from the group of pursuers in the last meters of the cobbled ascent.
The two favorites of these Strade Bianche, on the other hand, were enormously disappointed. Julian Alaphilippe and Mathieu Van der Poel were released as soon as the race got tough. Winner last weekend of the Ardèche-Classic, the double French world champion has never been in the game. A first big failed test against the leaders of the peloton. Tuscany no longer suits him. During the previous edition, he had fallen heavily, the first hitch of a dark season.
More information to follow.